Santa Fe, in western Galveston County along State Highway 6, is a smaller community where a single arrest can feel very public. We help people arrested in and around Santa Fe on DWI, assault, theft and drug charges, and we know how those cases move through the Galveston County courts.
- Misdemeanor courtGalveston County Courts at Law No. 1, 2 and 3, Galveston County Justice Center, 600 59th Street, Galveston
- Felony court10th, 56th, 122nd, 212th and 405th District Courts, Galveston County Justice Center
- County jailGalveston County Jail, 5700 Ball Street, Galveston · (409) 766-2315
- Class C ticketsSanta Fe Municipal Court
How a Santa Fe arrest becomes a Galveston County case
Santa Fe arrests are usually made by the Santa Fe Police Department, the Galveston County Sheriff's Office, or Texas Department of Public Safety troopers. Whoever makes the arrest, the case is not decided by the officer. The officer writes a report, and the Galveston County District Attorney's Office decides what to file. As former prosecutors, Brian Foley and Luis Baez know that the charge on the arrest paperwork is a starting point, not the final word.
After booking, the person sees a magistrate, who sets bond and any bond conditions. In family violence cases the magistrate may also sign an emergency protective order. Misdemeanor cases are then assigned to one of the County Courts at Law, and felony cases go to a district court after indictment.
Protecting your record
For many people the biggest worry is not jail but their record: a job, a license, a background check. A dismissal or an acquittal can lead to an expunction, which removes the arrest from your record. Some cases resolved in other ways may qualify for an order of nondisclosure instead. Planning for that outcome starts at the beginning of the case, not the end. See expunctions and nondisclosures.
Charges we defend for people arrested in Santa Fe
- DWI, including breath test and blood test cases, and the 15-day license hearing
- Assault and Assault Family Member
- Drug charges, including marijuana, Penalty Group 1 and Penalty Group 2 / THC vape cases
- Theft and shoplifting
- Public intoxication
- Expunctions and nondisclosures once a case is resolved
What to do right now
Be polite, say as little as possible, and do not try to explain your way out of it. Statements made at the scene, in the patrol car and on recorded jail calls are routinely used later. If you are not sure what happens next, start with our guide: Arrested in Galveston County — What Happens Next.
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Your Galveston Criminal Defense Attorneys
